ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
PIB Headquarters
Draft National Mariculture Policy Moots Mariculture Zones in Sea
Kochi: A draft national policy on mariculture has mooted mariculture zones by demarcating special areas in the sea for different mariculture activities such as cage farming, bivalve farming, pen culture, seaweed culture, hatcheries and nurseries based on scientific criteria.
The draft policy was formulated by an expert committee formed by the National Fisheries Development Board  with Dr A Gopalakrishnan, Director of Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute  as chairman. The document is now available in public document for comments from all stakeholders and interested groups.
The policy aims to enhance mariculture production in the country and increase income and employment opportunities in a sustainable way, in addition to promoting entrepreneurship in mariculture by facilitating technical and financial inputs.
According to the policy, satellite remote sensing data and GIS will be used to identify potential zones for mariculture on the basis of scientific evaluation of environmental parameters suitable for various types of farming avoiding conflict other users and protecting livelihoods of local fishing communities. Sea areas identified in this manner will be designated as mariculture technology parks by the respective states.
Marine protected areas , ecologically sensitive areas like coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds, and other coastal areas with strategic interest would not be considered for mariculture zones. In a bid to support fish breeding, culture, packaging and trade, the policy proposes encouraging to set up off-shore technology parks and coastal embankment systems.
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Prime Minister's Office
PM interacts with state and district officials on the COVID-19 situation
Urges officials to devise their strategy in a rural and urban specific way
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi interacted with the state and district officials on the COVID-19 situation through video conference.
During the interaction, the officials thanked the Prime Minister for his leadership in the battle against Covid-19. The officials briefed the Prime Minister about the improving covid situation in their respective districts. They shared their experience of using technology for real-time monitoring and capacity building. They also informed about the steps taken to enhance public participation and awareness in their districts.
Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister urged everyone to ensure full commitment to fight the pandemic. He added, Coronavirus has made the work more demanding and challenging. In the midst of these new challenges, new strategies and solutions are needed. He said over the past few days, active cases have started to reduce in the country. But he warned that the challenge remains as long as this infection is present even on the minor scale.
The Prime Minister lauded the outstanding work of the state and district officials in fighting the pandemic and said experiences and feedback from their work in the field, helped in making practical and effective policies. He added that vaccination strategy is also being pushed forward by incorporating suggestions from states and various stakeholders at all levels.
The Prime Minister stressed on the need to use local experiences and the need to work together as a country. He urged to spread messages on keeping villages Corona-free and following COVID-appropriate behaviour, even when cases are declining. He asked the officials to devise their strategy in a rural and urban specific way and ensure that Rural India is COVID free.
The Prime Minister remarked that every epidemic has taught us the importance of continuous innovation and change in our ways of dealing with epidemics. He emphasized that the methods and strategies in dealing with the pandemic should be dynamic as the virus is expert in mutation and changing the format. He said virus mutation is concerning the youth and children. He stressed the need to boost vaccination drive.
On vaccine wastage, the Prime Minister said wastage of a single vaccine means not being able to provide the necessary security to an individual. Therefore he urged to stop vaccine wastage.
The Prime Minister also emphasized the priority of eazing the lives of citizens while saving lives. He added facilities for free ration for the poor, other essential supplies must be provided and black marketing should be stopped. He said these steps are also necessary to win this fight and to move forward.
Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs
First-ever Swachh Mashaal March
Over 2800 cities in readiness to rally for garbage-free cities
Swachh Bharat Mission was launched by the Hon’ble Prime Minister in 2014 to improve access and availability of sanitation and waste management infrastructure to citizens and to accelerate the achievement of universal sanitation coverage. Over the past eight years, crores of citizens have answered the Prime Minister’s clarion call for ‘Swachh Bharat’ and have been transforming the urban landscape of the country.
During the past 8 years, the determination of crores of citizens towards the Mission has transformed this government programme into a people’s mission. Under SBM-Urban 2.0, lakhs of young people led the rally for garbage free beaches, hills, and tourist places as part of the maiden edition of ‘Indian Swachhata League’. Soon after ISL, the country saw thousands of young school students spread awareness regarding source segregation under the ‘Hara Geela Sookha Neela’ campaign; the Mission has prioritized creating ‘wealth’ from ‘waste under ’Toycathon’ and has also facilitated the mass cleaning and maintenance of all public and community toilets under the ‘Toilets 2.0’ campaign.
As part of the ongoing Swachhotsav 2023 campaign, the Mission is set to mobilize citizens from over 2,800 cities as part of the ‘Swachh Mashaal March’. The Mashaal March will facilitate ward mobilization in nearly 3,000 cities from 28th- 31st March and will be led by women changemakers, SHG members, social influencers, as well as political representatives. The Mashaal March aims to spread awareness regarding the idea of a ‘Garbage Free City’: a city that has clean streets and clean toilets, with source segregation of waste, no littering on the streets, no open defecation, no usage of Single Use Plastic items, as well as maximum usage of the 3R principles of ‘Reuse, Reduce, Recycle’.
Citizens will be encouraged to spread awareness regarding ‘zero waste’, source segregation, and composting in their neighbourhoods. Several cities will be organizing ward-wide cleanliness drives and zero wa`ste events to commemorate the International Day of Zero Waste , as declared by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2022. Zero waste activities could range from melas of zero waste products created by women SHG members to the setting up of zero waste food stalls, ‘waste to wealth’ competitions, nukkad nataks, etc.
Additionally, as part of the Mashaal March, citizens will be encouraged to pledge their efforts towards making their city garbage free. So far, more than 450,000 citizens have pledged their support to the goal of GFC.
Special Service and Features
India witnesses transformation, to emerge as key driver of Asian, global growth: Morgan Stanley
India has witnessed a significant transformation in several areas since 2014 and will emerge as a key driver for Asian and global growth, says a Morgan Stanley research report on Wednesday.
India of today, the report said, is different from what it was in 2013.
"In a short span of 10 years, India has gained positions in the world order with significant positive consequences for the macro and market outlook," it said.
India, according to the report, "will emerge as a key driver for Asia and global growth."
On the skepticism about India, particularly with overseas investors, who say India has not delivered its potential -- despite it being the second-fastest growing economy and among the top-performing stock markets over the past 25 years -- and that equity valuations are too rich, it said, such a view ignores the significant changes that have taken place in India, especially since 2014.
The report highlighted the 10 big changes, including supply-side policy reforms, formalisation of the economy, Direct Benefit Transfer, Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, focus on FDI and flexible inflation targeting. These changes are because of India's policy choices, and their implications for its economy and market.
As a result, the report expects a new cycle in manufacturing and capex, as the share of both will rise in GDP. It also estimates that India's export market share will rise to 4.5 per cent by 2031, nearly 2 times from 2021 levels, with broadbased gains across goods and services exports and there would be a major shift in consumption basket.
"As India's per capita income increases from USD 2,200 currently to about USD 5,200 by F2032, this will have major implications for change in the consumption basket, with an impetus to discretionary consumption," it said.
As per the report, inflation would remain benign and less volatile, which would imply shallower rate cycles and benign trend in current account deficit.
The share of profits in GDP has doubled from all-time lows in 2020 and are set to rise further – maybe even double from here– leading to strong absolute and relative earnings, it said, adding, this explains India's apparently rich headline equity valuations.
As India's reliance on global capital market flows has reduced, the market's sensitivity to a US recession and US Fed rate changes also seems to be fading, it added.
The report said, a global recession, a fragmented general election outcome in 2024, sharp rise in commodity prices due to supply outages and shortages in skilled labour supply are key risks to India's growth.
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Ministry of Defence
Successful Test Firing of BrahMos by Indian Navy
BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile in Anti-Ship mode was successfully test fired today at 0900 hrs against a decommissioned Ship. The test firing was carried out by Indian Navy. The missile performed highly complex manoeuvres and hit Bull’s eye of the target.
BrahMos is the supersonic cruise missile jointly developed by DRDO and NPOM of Russia as a Brahmos Aerospace joint venture, which became Brahmos Aerospace Private Limited. The missile has established itself as a major force multiplier in modern-day complex battlefields with its impeccable anti-ship and land-attack capabilities with multi-role and multi-platform abilities and has been deployed in all the three wings of the Indian Armed Forces.
The first launch of Brahmos took place in 2001 and till date numerous launches have taken place from various ships, Mobile Autonomous Launchers and Su-30 MKI aircraft, making it a versatile weapon.
Secretary DDR&D & Chairman DRDO Dr G Satheesh Reddy congratulated Indian Navy for the successful test.
Ministry of Textiles
Packaging norms provide for 100% of the total production of food grains and 20% of the total production of sugar for packaging in Jute packaging material
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs in its meeting held on 10.11.2021 has approved minimum percentage as 100% of the total production of food grains and 20% of the total production of sugar for packaging in Jute packaging material manufactured in India from raw jute produced in India during Jute Year 2021-22.
The details of quantity / cost of jute sacking bags procured by the Government for packing food grains during the last three years are as below:
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Financial Year
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Quantity of jute bags 
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Cost of jute bags 
|
|
2018-19
|
|
29,61,688
|
|
7,529.44
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|
2019-20
|
|
34,75,004
|
|
9,664.58
|
|
2020-21
|
|
25,08,572
|
|
7,889.48
To ensure the complete off-take of sacking production of the jute bags in order to protect the interest of jute farmers, workers and person engaged in the industry, the Government announces MSP for raw jute and mesta every year. Also, the Government has imposed Anti-Dumping Duty w.e.f. 05.01.2017 on the import of jute products.
This information was given by The Minister of State for Textiles Smt. Darshana Jardosh in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
Special Service and Features
Faculty development Programme
The Department of Energy and Environment, National Institute of Technology Trichy isconducting anone week faculty development programme on “Biomass to fuels, Chemicals and value-added products for sustainable energy and environmental future” scheduled on 20th – 24thDecember 2021, sponsored by AICTE, New Delhi under ATAL Academy.It is essential to control the emissions immediately through the usage of alternative biofuels,considering the present scenario
on the environmental impacts made so far by the present conventional energy sources.The objective of the program is to enrich participant’s knowledge and create an awareness about thepotential of biomass in India as a source of renewable energy and sustainable alterative to fossil fuels. The eminent professors from IITs, scientists from CSIR Labs and Industrial experts are expected to deliver value added lectures in the program.
Ministry of Communications
53rd Postal Pension Adalat at O/o Postmaster General, Navi Mumbai Region on 31st August 2023
: Mumbai, August 17, 2023
The Postmaster General, Navi Mumbai Region, Panvel will be holding 53rd Postal Pension Adalat for Pensioners/Family pensioners of Department of Posts  on Thursday, 31st August 2023 at 12.00 Hrs in the "Office of the Postmaster General, Navi Mumbai Region, 2nd Floor, Panvel HO Building, New Panvel, Raigad 410206".
Pensioners may send their Application for pension Adalat addressed to Accounts Officer, O/o The Postmaster General, Navi Mumbai Region, 2nd Floor, Panvel HO Building, New Panvel, Raigad-410206 so as to reach on or before 24th August 2023. The application received after 24th August 2023 will not be considered in the Pension Adalat. Cases involving purely legal issues, i.e., succession, National Pension, TBOP/MACP, Promotion, stepping of pay and disciplinary cases involving policy matters, and cases pending for review of DPC, will not be considered in Pension Adalat.
DEPARTMENT OF POSTS
APPLICATION FORM OF POSTAL PENSION ADALAT
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SR.
No.
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SUBJECT
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DETAILS TO BE FILLED IN BY THE
INDIVIDUAL/PENSIONER
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1.
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Name of the pensioner /Family pensioner with Designation at the time of retirement/death
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|
|
2.
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Name of Post Office from where retired
etc. and date of retirement
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|
3.
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PPO No. of Pensioner /Family Pensioner.
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|
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4.
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Name of the Post Office from where Pension is being drawn
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5.
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Postal address of the Pensioner/Family
Pensioner with Phone No.
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6.
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Date & signature of the Complaint in brief 
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7.
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Date & signature of the Individual/Pensioner/Family Pensioner
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To enable universal access to Concessional Institutional credit, Government of India has initiated a drive in Mission Mode for saturating all PM-KISAN beneficiaries with Kisan Credit Card . This will help all such farmers to get short term loan for crop & animal/fish rearing at a maximum interest of 4% on timely repayment.
This drive has started from 10th February, 2020 and will be carried out for a period of 15 days.Detailed instructions in this regard have been issued to all the State/UT Govts, MDs of all banks and Chairman NABARD, detailing the procedure to be followed for coverage of PM-KISAN beneficiaries under KCC.
State/UT Governments and banks have been advised to prepare a list of all PM-KISAN beneficiaries who do not have KCC and approach them through line departments of the State/UT Government including Departments of Agriculture, Animal husbandry, Panchayat & Rural Development and Panchayat Secretaries. Bank Sakhis under the NRLM scheme would also be used for motivating PM KISAN beneficiaries to visit the concerned bank branches for the purpose.
As the KCC along with benefit of Interest Subvention has now been extended to animal husbandry and fisheries farmers also, State/UT Governments have also been requested to focus on such farmers and facilitate sanction of additional credit limit/issue fresh KCC to them.
To ensure ease of application the following steps have been taken -
a. A simple one page form has been developed such that the basic data would be obtained from the bank’s record under PM KISAN and only a copy of the land record along with details of crop sown would need to be filled in.
b. The one page form shall be available along with an advertisement being published in all leading newspapers across the country and the same can be cut and filled by the beneficiaries.
c. The form can also be downloaded from websites of all Scheduled Commercial Banks  as well as website of Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare, Govt. of India  and PM-KISAN portal .
d. Common Service Centres  have also been authorised to fill up the form and transmit the same to the concerned bank branches.
All banks have been advised to have separate counters for handling such applications and ensure issue of fresh KCC; or, enhancement of the existing KCC limit; or, activation of inoperative KCC account within the shortest possible time not exceeding 14 days from date of submission of application.
Progress of this drive will be monitored on a daily basis by the State/UT Govt. Activities under Saturation drive in a district would be led by the District Collector with full support of the Lead District Manager and DDM, NABARD.
In addition to the KCC, with a view to provide social security to the PM KISAN beneficiaries, eligible farmers will also be enrolled for the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha BimaYojana  and Pradhan MantriJeevanJyotiBeemaYojana , after obtaining their consent. These schemes provide accident insurance and life insurance, at a premium of Rs.12/- and Rs.330/- respectively for an insured value of Rs.2 lakh in each case.
Special Service and Features
CTCRI to prepare a policy document on management of mealybugs infesting cassava
24 May 2023, Thiruvananthapuram
The brainstorming session organized by ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute  in Thiruvananthapuram became a platform for bringing together scientists from NBAIR, CTCRI, Kerala Agricultural University and Tamil Nadu Agricultural University along with different stakeholders including officials from all Krishi Vigyan Kendra  in Kerala, state department of agriculture & farmers welfare, who discussed threadbare the management of cassava mealybug. Dr. S.C. Dubey, Assistant Director General , ICAR, New Delhi and Dr. S.N. Sushil, Director, NBAIR, Bengaluru were also present to prepare the roadmap.
Mealybugs are serious pests of a number of crops including cassava, the fifth most produced staple food crop of the world. Though look similar to a layman, there are three species of mealybugs found very seriously affecting cassava worldwide. The most serious of the three, cassava mealybug , first reported in India from Thrissur during April 2020 by National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources , Bangalore is the latest example.
Five important topics were discussed by domain experts on  Hurdles in the management of mealybugs in agricultural crops ,  Management of mealy bugs using entomopathogenic fungi ,  Mass culturing technique of cassava mealybug parasitoid, Anagurus lopezi ,  Management of Paracoccus marginatus in cassava  and  Status of cassava mealybugs in Salem district and other cassava growing areas of Tamil Nadu and their management strategies .
In the plenary session of panel discussion, experts in the field interacted and addressed all queries raised by different stakeholders. Dr. G. Byju, Director, CTCRI in his concluding remarks said that a policy document on Management of mealybugs infesting cassava will be prepared considering all the valuable suggestions and recommendations of the sessions and, after consultation with ADG  and Director, NBAIR, will be published and submitted to council.
Dr. Harish, Organizing Secretary and Dr. S.S. Veena, Head , Division of Crop Protection coordinated the event.
The parasitoid wasps were released in cassava fields and distributed to officials of agriculture department, progressive farmers, eight KVKs from Kerala and also from Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.
ND
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Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
COVID - 19 Vaccination Update - Day 500
India’s cumulative vaccination coverage crosses 193.43 Crore
More than 11 lakh Vaccine doses administered today till 7 pm
India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage has crossed 193.43 Crore  today. More than 11 lakh  Vaccine Doses have been administered till 7 pm today. The daily vaccination tally is expected to increase with the compilation of the final reports for the day by late tonight.
The cumulative coverage of vaccine doses, segregated based on population priority groups, is as follows:
|
|
Cumulative Vaccine Dose Coverage
|
|
HCWs
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
10406961
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
10040071
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
5222188
|
|
FLWs
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
18419213
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
17584160
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
8725305
|
|
Age Group 12-14 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
33902151
|
|
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
16330065
|
|
Age Group 15-18 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
59469313
|
|
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
45714209
|
|
Age Group 18-44 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
557145123
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
490038179
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
874675
|
|
Age Group 45-59 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
203248965
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
190854779
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
1399944
|
|
Over 60 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
127089281
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
119037881
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
18849134
|
|
Cumulative 1st dose administered
|
|
1009681007
|
|
Cumulative 2nd dose administered
|
|
889599344
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
35071246
|
|
Total
|
|
1934351597
Today’s achievement in the vaccination exercise, segregated by population priority groups, is as follows:
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|
Date: 30th May, 2022 
|
|
HCWs
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
54
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
651
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
13874
|
|
FLWs
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
248
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
1129
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
65098
|
|
Age Group 12-14 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
92070
|
|
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
232919
|
|
Age Group 15-18 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
28740
|
|
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
93023
|
|
Age Group 18-44 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
32020
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
273064
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
29611
|
|
Age Group 45-59 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
5707
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
59623
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
22451
|
|
Over 60 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
3860
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
38979
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
174070
|
|
Cumulative 1st dose administered
|
|
162699
|
|
Cumulative 2nd dose administered
|
|
699388
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
305104
|
|
Total
|
|
1167191
The vaccination exercise as a tool to protect the most vulnerable population groups in the country from COVID-19 continues to be regularly reviewed and monitored at the highest level.
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
ACC APPROVALS
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the following:
- Extension in service of Shri Rajiv Jain, Director, Intelligence Bureau for a period of 6 months beyond the present tenure i.e. 30.12.2018.
- Extension in service of Shri A.K. Dhasmana, Secretary, Research & Analysis Wing  for a period of 6 months beyond the present tenure i.e. 29.12.2018.
- Re-designation of Shri Anil Srivastava, IAS , Advisor, NITI Aayog as Principal Adviser in NITI Aayog.